Method of filling tree cavities and the filling itself



1,624,820 A nl 12, 1927- VAN YAHRES METHOD OF FILLING TREE CAVITIES AND THE FILLING ITSELF Filed Nov. 5. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' lN VENTO R ac ryel anwhres ATTORNEYS WITNESSES A ril 1927; p v e. VAN YAHRES METHOD OF FILLING TREE QAVITIE S AND THE FILLING ITSELF Filed Nov. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TNESSES mv OR Geogawk a res ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 12, 1 9 27 I V UNITED STATES PATENTYOEFICE.

' GEORGE VAN YA HRES, F WESTBURY, NEW YORK. METHOD OI FILLING TREE 'CAVITIES AND THE FILLING I'ISEILF. Application filed November 5, 1925. Serial No. 67,075.

This invention relates to the art of tree trating a furthermodification of the present surgery, the-method of filling a cavity 1n inventlon. I

a part of a tree, and the filling itself. Fig. 9 .is .an elevation illustrating the One of the objects of the presentinvenmeans employed for rendering the filler tion is to carry out the cavity filling operapleces proof against insects and birds.

tions-by the practice ofa new and novel Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken method which results in a more thoroughly on the line 10-10of Fig. 9. efficient and effectual treatment of and F 1g. 11 1s a transverse sectional view taken remedy for decayed portions of trees. on the line 1111 of Fig. 10

10 Another object of the invention is to pro- In accordance with the present .invention 65 vide a fillingin a cavity in a partof a tree a cavity in a part of a tree is thoroughly which will be susceptible to the natural excleaned of all decayed and soft wood, the pansion and contraction of the adjoining cavity is then shaped, sterilized, and waterportions ofthe tree, which will have a better proofed with a special paint or dressing. A affinity to the tree characteristics so as to portion of the tree is indicated at 10 and prolong the life of the tree. v the cavity to be filled in accordance with the Another object of: the present invention method of the present invention and the is to render the filling proof against demeans employed, presently to be described, struction by insects and birds and other is indicated at 11. Use is made of a suitable mites,which bore into the tree. confo mable elastic material, and in the 75 Another object of the invention is to utilpresent instance this material is cork which ize conformable elastic filler pieces of mateis specially treated. The said material is cut rial such as cork normally over size so that into blocks 12 which are fitted from the botwhen the pieces are arranged in the cavity tom of the cavity to t-he top, and which to be filled they will impingeagainst the are adapted to be inserted into the cavity, 80

walls of the cavity and fit tightly therein and t0 elastlcally conform to, the walls and conform to the walls thereof. thereof. It 'will, therefore, be, understood Other objects of the invention, its nature, that the blocks 12 will be of divers shapes and distinguishing features and advantages ,and sizesand the desired thickness to reach will appear when the following specificawell into the cavity, and each of the blocks tion is read in conjunctionvw ith the accomis cut sllightlyover size. Prior to theem-- panying drawings, in which- .s placement of the blocks, which are to be put Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion Into the cavity one at a time, eachblock is of a tree trunk, the cavity therein being dipped into a hot tree mastic and held' 3 partly filled in accordance with the present therein until it is. softened. The block is invention. then forced down into the cavity allowing Fig? 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional the outside portion thereof to extend out at view through a portion of a tree trunk, and least one sixteenth of an inch for trimming showing a plurality of the filler pieces in and shaping the exposed surface. After 40 place in thecavity, on an enlarged scale. each block is set in place and before the Fig. 3 -is a transverse sectional view taken tr e mastlc has hardened, the block is spiked on the line 3-3 of Fig to theside wall of the cavity, which is accom- Fig. 4 is an.elevation of one'of the wedges plished by the use of elements 14, such as employed for expandingthe inner portions nails; or any other suitable means such as of one of the filler pieces. glazier points which are partly driven into. '9"

' Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portionof one the side walls of the cavity and arethen of the pins employed for joining contiguous pounded down against the topof'the'block filler pieces. so as to compress the same and'make it fit Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the tightly. The top of each block is slightly filler pieces. beveled rearwardly as at 13 so that after the Fig.- 7 is a side elevation of a portion of block is in place, hot mastic is poured over a tree trunk whose cavity is filled withfiller .the block to fill the portion of the cavity bepieces held therein by the use of a modified hind the block; the bevel preventing any of form of retaining-means. the mastic fromcoming out. Afterthe top Fig. 8is a transverse sectional view illusof the first block is well covered with the 1.10

' breaking.

' accommodate a wedge mastic, the second block is dipped in the manner explained and is forced down on top of the first block. 'The second block is then firmly pinned to the first block by theuse of suitable pins, such as wooden skewers 15, any number of which may be used and which extend through the contiguous blocks. These pins effect a compressing action and combined with the mastic make a solid and firm joint or union between the blocks, so that the joint or qunion will prevent cracking or The required number of blocks are placed in the cavity until the sameis filled which will result in a solid structural integrality. If desired, and as in some cases, the inner portions 16 of each block will be expanded by the use of suitable wooden wedges 17 which are driven down between the portions 16, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, This is accomplished after each block is set in place; Each block 12 maybe cut out as shown at 18 in Fig. 6 to or the wedge may be driven home without cutting out the block. By using a wedge the inner portion of each block will be impinged against the side walls of the cavity 11 to effectually secure the block in place. After all of the blocks are in place the outer surfaces thereof are trimmed by the use of a suitable cutting tool, the trimmed surfaces are, then rubbed with rough sand paper so as to smooth the same afterwhich the entire outer surface of the filling is given a coating of hotparafline dressing.

i The top or last block-inserted may be held in place by the use of suitable fastening elements which are driven in and pounded back walls and to compress t before.

against. the block to prevent the same from co out because it will be impossible to employ pins such as the pins 15. On reference to Fig. 2, it will be apparent the space between the wallof the cavity and the back portions of the blocks is filled with thespe- .cial waterproofing paint or dressing and also some of the mastic and is indicated at 19. The mastic-between contiguous blocks is indicated at 20.

As shown in Fig. 7 means may be employed for bolting or reinforcing the cavity time to hold the filler blocks in place and this is accomplished by the use of bolts 21 which are employed by drilling holes through the side walls of the cavity and through the fillin the bolts'being arranged in'the holes after which the nuts are applied to tightly draw up the side he filling. These bolts may be used with or without the other features of the. mvention set forth herein- As shown in Fi'gfiS blocks 12 are arranged in the. cavity and each of the blocks will be cut out as at 22. The back of each block will have attached to the inside thereof'*a will be done' thin slice of cork 23 which will prevent the cut out 22 from being filled by tree mastic, and compensates for expansion due to the tree swelling in cold weather.

It is to be require a certain type of filling, therefore, in some cases certain features will be omitted While others are employed. The features of the invention may be diversely employed to meet the particular requirements according to the size of the cavity to be filled.

As shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 the blocks 12" are proofed against insects-and birds by the use of a wire mesh 24 which serves as a protecting armor.

-.cut and fitted so that they' will all combine understood that certain trees Each of the blocks 12 is to fill the cavity after which the blocks are If desired each block may be block 12 is then dipped in removed. 7 numbered. Each is stuck tothe same or fastened in suitable manner. A comparatively thin piece ,of cork 25 is arranged over the wire mesh' and is securely held by virtue of the mastic. If desired, these pieces 25 may also be pinned to theirrelated blocks 12. 'Each block 12 its wire mesh 24, and piece 25 will constitute a unit when arranged in the cavity in the manner explained hereinbefore. It is to be noted that each beveled as at 26 to prevent the mastic used from eoming out as the units are pressed in place, and that each of the pieces 25 will be outermost, to constitute an outside covering piece for its related block 12".

of the pieces 25 is understood that all rights under the doc- .In connection with the claims it is to be A of a treewhich consists in shaping and cleanin a cavity, utilizing over size blocks of conformable elastic material .to fill the cavity, softening eachrof the blocks prior to its being put into its place in the cavity, joining each block to a contiguous block after being put in place in the cavity, applying a binder between opposing faces of the blocks, compressing each block ving put into its place in the cavity, the protruding portions of the blocks, and .finall dressing the blocks with a water'- proo ng to complete thefilli'ng.

2. The method of filling a cavity ina part of a tree which consists in shaping and cleaning the cavity, utilizing over size blocks ofcork to fill the cavity, softening each of the blocks prior to its being put into its place in the cavity, joining each block to a' contiguous 'the cavity, applying a binder between oposmg faces of the blocks, compressing each lock after being put into itsplace in the after betrimming block after being put in placein cavity, trimming the protruding portions of the blocks, and finally dressing the blocks Y with a waterproofing to complete the filling.

3. The method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in shaping and cleaning the cavity, utilizing over size blocks of conformable elastic material to fill the cavty, softening each of the blocks prior to its being put into its place in the cavity,

joining each block to a contiguous block after being put in place in the cavity, applylng a binder between opposing faces of the blocks, compressing each block after being put into its place in the cavity by expanding inner portions thereof, trimming the protruding portions of the blocks, and finally dressing the blocks with a waterproofing to complete the filling.

4. The method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in shaping and cleaning the cavity, utilizing over size blocks of cork to fill the cavity, softening each of the blocks prior to its being put into its place in the cavity, joining each block to a contiguous block after being put in place in the cavity, applying a binder between opposing faces of the blocks, compressing each block after being put into its place in the cavity by drawing the walls of the cavity together, trimming the protruding portions of the blocks, and finally dressing the blocks with a waterproofing to complete the filling.

5. The method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in shaping and cleaning the cavity, utilizing blocks of cork ,to fill the cavity, joining the blocks together after being put in place in the cavity by the use of pins, compressing the side walls of the cavity to the filling, trimming the protruding portions of the blocks, and applying a waterproofing material to the outer trimmed surfaces of the blocks to complete the filling.

6. That improvement in the method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in utilizing conformable elastic tiller blocks and in expanding the inner portions of the cavity filler blocks by the use of wedges.

7. That improvement in the method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in utilizing conformable elastic filler blocks and in expanding portions of each filler block by the use of a wedge driven into the filler block 8. Tliat improvement in the method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which con sists in utilizing conformable elastic filler blocks, in expanding the inner portions of the filler blocks b the use of wedges, and in joinin the filer blocks by the use of means w ich extends through upper and lower contiguous filler blocks.

9. Thatimprovement in the method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in utilizing conformable elastic filler blocks, in expanding the inner portions of the filler blocks by the use of wedges, and in joining the filler blocks by the use of pins.

10. That improvement in the method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in providing filler pieces which are first fitted to the cavity, which pieces are then removed from the cavity, then providing each filler piece with a protecting means, then covering the protecting means of each filler piece with an outer cover piece, and then placing each of the units formed into the cavity and securing the same there- 11. That improvement in the method of filling a cavity in a part "of a tree which consists in utilizing conformable elastic filler pieces, softening the filler pieces to render them more compressible, then placing the filler pieces in the cavity, and securing the filler pieces in the cavity.

12. That improvement in the method of filling a cavity in a part of a tree which consists in utilizing blocks of cork, and in expanding inner portions of' each block by the use of a wedge driven between the inner portions of each block. 7

13. In conjunction with a part of a tree having a cavity therein, a filling for the cavity comprising conformable elastic blocks, and means which causes the impingement of side portions of each block against the opposite walls of the cavity.

art of a tree 14. In conjunction with a lling for the having a cavity therein, a

'cavit y comprising blocks of compressible and expansible material fitted in said cavity,

and wedges for compressing the inner portions of each of said blocks to cause the same to impinge against the side walls of the cavity to secure the blocks in place in the cavity.

15. In conjunction with a art of a tree having a cavity therein,'a filling for the cavity comprising blocks of compressible material fitted in said cavity, means for compressing inner portions of each of said blocks to cause the same to impinge against Y GEORGE VA AHRES. 

